Director of Corporate Partnerships

Position Overview:

We are seeking a dynamic, results-driven Director of Corporate Partnerships to lead and grow our premium sponsorship portfolio. This senior-level role will focus on selling high-value club, lounge, and hospitality assets while actively hunting and developing new sponsorship opportunities across local, regional, and national markets. The ideal candidate is a strategic closer with deep experience in partnership sales, premium hospitality, and relationship management.

Essential Functions:

• Primary - Prospects, negotiates, sells arena sponsorship assets, including club spaces, lounges and digital/fixed assets
• Secondary - Prospects, negotiates, sells luxury suite leases and all-inclusive box lease agreements
• Identifies, prospects, and closes new business opportunities across a wide range of industries at the local, regional, and national levels.
• Achieves and exceeds annual sales targets through customized, high-impact partnership solutions.
• Collaborates with internal departments (marketing, events, ticketing, and game presentation) to develop compelling sponsorship packages that integrate branding, digital, experiential, and hospitality assets.
• Leverages data and insights to build business cases and ROI models for prospective partners.
• Cultivates long-term relationships with clients, key stakeholders, and decision-makers.
• Provides ongoing service, support, and renewal strategy for existing partners to ensure value delivery and satisfaction.
• Monitors trends in sports marketing, hospitality, and brand partnerships to stay ahead of market dynamics and drive innovation in asset development.
• Represents the American Airlines Center at industry events, networking opportunities, and community engagements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education/Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, sports management, or a related field.
• 3+ years of proven success in corporate partnership sales, preferably in sports/entertainment, or live events. 
• Strong experience with high-end hospitality, premium assets, and client activation.
• Demonstrated ability to generate and close six- and seven-figure deals.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance short-term results and long-term value.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms (KORE & Salesforce preferred) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Existing network of brand contacts and decision-makers at the local/regional/national level.
• Passion for sports and live entertainment.
• High level of professionalism, drive, and entrepreneurial mindset.

Physical Demands/Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time since most work is a t a computer work station
• Ability to talk or hear, walk, use hands to handle and feel, reach with hands and arms
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to respond on an immediate basis during normal business hours, after hours and on weekends via mobile phone is required/company phone allowance is provided on bi-weekly basis as compensation for this job requirement/employee must purchase mobile phone and service plan of their own choosing with responsibility for the repair and/or replacement of the phone.
• Employees with this phone access requirement are not restricted in their movement, location, and activities during off hours when they are not at work.
• Flexible to work all shifts in a 24/7 facility; including weekends, evenings and holidays.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, however, during events, the noise level may be loud.

What We Offer:

• Competitive base salary plus aggressive commission structure.
• 401(k) match plan
• Full Benefits
• Access to world-class events and premium experiences.
• Opportunity to work with a dynamic team at one of the premier sports and entertainment venues in the country.